Arch support shoe bottoming methods and apparatus



ARCH SUPPORT SHOE BOTTOMING METHODS AND APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1955 July 28, 1959 w. H. DOHERTY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w R mm mw VD N I H M M L P w Y B 4 Z A 7 7 GPA/5Y8.

July 28, 1959 w. H. DOHERTY 2,396,255

ARCH SUPPORT SHOE BOTTOMING mamons AND APPARATUS Filed July '18, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM H. DOHERTY I 40 I E r-kw fi/IS ATTOP/VE:

y 1959 w. H. DOHERTY 2,396,255

ARCH SUPPORT SHOE BOTTOMING METHODS AND APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR.

f WILLIAM H. DOHERTY FIG. 6. i ll high 494 fi/s 477004962 United Patent ARCH SUPPORT SHOE BQTTOMING METHODS APPARATUS William H. Doherty, Rego Park, FLY.

Application July 18, 1955, Serial No. 522,688

12 Claims. (Cl. 18-17) This invention relates to the molding of arch supporting bottoms on shoes.

Footwear has a tendency to weaken after some use and when this occurs, arch support for the wearer is greatly reduced if not eliminated. Attempts in the past to remedy such shoe weakening have primarily involved adding various arch supports to the shoe interior either during manufacture or after the shoe has been worn. These have not been altogether successful since such interior arch supports interfere With the internal configuration of the shoe and tend to cause discomfort. Furthermore, in order to add such internal support to a shoe after it has been used for a period of time, it is necessary to affix an element to the interior of the shoe thus destroying the original shoe sizing, an unsatisfactory condition.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe with an external arch supportresulting from a molded bottom.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe having a molded bottom extending to the upper of the shoe for firm arch support.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide molding bands positioned by means of knife edges along the periphery of a shoe bottom.

These and further objects of the invention are accomplished by forming on the bottom of a shoe a mold adapted to receive an appropriate compound which, upon hardening, forms a long wearing resilient sole and heel. Apparatus extending across the shank of the shoe is utilized to lift the arch, prior to molding the sole and heel, this apparatus being released only after the shoe bottom has hardened. The arch is preferably lifted past its normal position and the natural tendency of theshoe to spring back to such normal position is then opposed by the resilient shoe bottom. The resultant shoe provides firm arch support, it being evident that such support may be obtained for both new shoes and those undergoing repairs.

In one embodiment of the invention, the mold is arranged on the shoe bottom to permit the compound to engage a portion of the shoe upper along the arch, this I construction providing firm arch support.

Another feature of the invention resides in the use of reinforcing metallic stiffeners in the shank of the shoe to provide firmer and more lasting arch support.

It is important that the molding apparatus be precisely positioned on the shoe and to this end, the present invention utilizes knives extending through the molding bands into position between the shoe welt and upper.

Yet another feature of this invention is the provision of a flexible last base plate having portions of greater flexibility adjacent the inner shank in order to permit lifting of the arch prior. to molding the shoe bottom.

These and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a band mold in position on a shoe having its arch lifted in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the shoe illustrated in Figure 1 taken on the view line 3-3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of a flexible last base plate suitable for use in molding bottoms on a shoe in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of modified molding apparatus for bottoming a shoe in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 is a transverse section of the shoe illustrated in Figure 5 taken on the view line 6-6 looking inthe direction of the arrows; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section of the shoe-shown in Figure 5 taken on the view line 7-7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the invention in greater detail with particular reference to the drawings, a conventional shoe 10 is formed by an upper 11, a vamp 12, a cap 13, a counter 14, an arch 15, an insole 16 having sole, shank and heel portions 16a, 16b, and 160, respectively, and a welt 17, stitching 18 being employed to secure the shoe elements together.

The shoe 10 is preferably supported by a last 19 formed of a heel piece 20 anda toe piece 21 joined in any desired manner such as in the manner disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 439,512, filed June 28, 1954, now U.S. Patent No. 2,789,294. A flexible last base plate 22 (Figure 4) is positioned in the shoe 10 under the last 19, a portion 23 located adjacent to theinner section of the shank 16b being cut to provide serrations 24 extending from openings 25. In certain instances, it is desirable to provide a rounded surface on the bottom of the flexible plate 22 and to this end, a rounded piece 26 may be fastened by a strip 27 having its ends bent back upon themselves to cooperate with the edges of the plate 22.

The last 19 maybe of any suitable form but as a typical example, a last constructed inaccordance with the structure disclosed in my Patent No. 2,558,740 has been illustrated in connection with Figure 1. Thus, a stabilizing strip 28 extends between the pivoted heel portions 20 and 20a to the toe piece 21. Also fastened to the heel piece arm is an elongated U-shaped supporting member 29 that is clamped by-a rectangular frame 30 (Figure 3) carrying a lock screw 31 to a rod 32. Clamps 33 secure the rod 32 to a heavy metal strip 34 extending to the. bottom of the shoe and connected with the sole piece 21. A threaded metal rod 35 also extends from the sole piece 21 to the heel piece 200, a wing nut 36 being provided thereon to space suitably the heel and sole pieces 20 and 21. This is all shown in greaterdetail in the above referenced patent;

A laterally extending plate 37 on the rod 32 engages the frame 30 and is held in position by a nut 38 threaded on the rod 32. Ball and socket members 39 are joined to the nut 38 and secured to a further supporting rod 40, this arrangement permitting the .entire apparatus to be tilted in any desired manner.

Extending along the periphery of the bottom of the shoe 10 is a rubbery molding band 41 described in detail in my copending application Serial No. 415,283, filed March 10, 1954, now U.S. Patent No. 2,848,742. To position the molding band 41 in engagement with the shoe bottom including the welt '17, a suitably contoured block 42 carries a plurality of longitudinally spaced openlugs 43 which selectively receive the end of a spring 44.- In this manner, the block 42, which engages the' band 41,

3. urges it against the outer curved portion of the shoe adjacent to the shank 16b. The spring 44 may be provided with a loop 46 intermediate its ends (Figure 1) toincrease its resiliency.

' Directlyunder the block 42 is found a knife 47 passing though a' slit 48' in the band 41 into engagementwith the shoe 10 between the welt .17- and the upper 11. A bracket 49 is secured to the knife 47 by means .of a pair of nuts 50 and 51 threaded on one end of a further spring 52formed with a loop 52a. A slot 53 (Figure 2) in the bracket 49 and the knife 47 receives the end of the spring 44 carriedby the block-42, this arrangement permitting relative movement between the block 42 and the knife 47.

From Figure 2 it is evident that one end of the band 41 is held in position by the block 42 while the other end overlaps the outer side of the block 42 and is secured to a strap 54 extending around the shoe heel, a buckle 55 being used for tensioning purposes.

Examining next the manner in which the band 41 is pressed into conformity with the. inner side of the shoe 10, a suitably contoured block 56 carries spaced slots 57 which selectively receive the other end of the spring 44. Anut 58 threaded on the spring end serves to hold these parts in their desired relation. I

A contoured knife 59 carrying a bracket 60 is inserted through a' further slit 61 in the band 41 into engagement with the shoe 10 between the welt 17 and the arch 15. The other end of the spring 52 passes through the knife 59 and the bracket 60 and is secured thereto by nuts 61 and 62, this construction permitting the spring 52 to urge the assembly inwardly towards the shoe 10. Coincidentally formed in-the knife 59 and the bracket 60 is a slot 63 which receives the end of the spring 44 and permits relative movement between the block 56 and the knife 59. The outer edge of the bracket 60 also carries a pin 64 to which the strap 54 is anchored in order to secure the band 41 effectively to the shoe 10.

A vertically extending bracket 66 is fastened to the laterally extending plate 37 by a nut and wing bolt combination 65, the bracket 66 carrying by means of a nut and bolt combination 67 a supporting plate 68 (Figure 1) formed with. apertures 69 and 70 at its extremities. A strong line such, for example, as wire or nylon cord, extends fromthe opening 69 through the arch 15, across the shank 16b, under the upper 11 on the outer side of the shoe, along the edge of the shoe forwardly, back through the upper 11, across the shank 16b and through the. arch to the opening 70. Of course, any desired number of lines may be used. With the foregoing arrangement, the drawing up on the line 71 by tightening the wingnut 65 lifts the shank 16b and the arch 15, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3, this lift being somewhat exaggerated for clarity. The flexible portion 23 of the plate 22 permits this action.

i A plurality of reinforcements or stiffeners 72 extend laterally across and above the shank 16b, these functioning to stiffen and provided added support to the shank bottom formed by molding processes described in my above referenced application Serial No. 415,283, now US. Patent No. 2,848,742. It will be evident that the stifleners 72 may take any suitable form and in this instance, they are illustrated as formed with a curled head 73, their main body portion being provided with crirnps in order to better secure them to the molded shank. The stilfeners 72 may be formed of any desired spring material that wind bind to rubber, and brass has been found preferable in one embodiment of the invention. The stiffeners 72 extend to a point between the band 41 and the welt 17 or alternately, they. may terminate at the junction of the band 41 and the welt 17.

A suitably contoured core 74 is positioned on the band 41, in accordance with the teachings in my above mentioned copending application Serial No. 415,283, in order to properly shape the sole shank during the molding processes, I

In molding a resilient bottom on the shoe 10 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the shoe is mounted as shown and the wingnut 65 actuated to lift the arch 15 beyond its normal position by means of the lines 71. The sole and heel are then cast on the shoe bottom in the manner set forth in my above mentioned copending application Serial No. 415,283, now US. Patent No. 2,848,742.

.. After the bottom has hardened, the band 41 and retainthe shrinkage of the casting compound, discussed in my copending application Serial No. 474,163, filed December 9, 1954, also aids'in supporting the arch 15.,

Examining next another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, inclusive, elements similar to those found in Figures 1 to 3 will be designated by the same reference numerals.

In this instance, the band 41 may be provided with an additional knife element 75 (Figure 7) at the toe of the shoe 10 extending through a slit 76 in the band 41 between the welt 17 and the cap 13. The arms 77 integral with the knife 76 extend along the band 41 and embrace it at its edge to better position the knife 75. Furthermore, a line 78 aflixed to the outer end of the knife 75 provides for further securing and positioning the band 41 to the toe of the shoe 10, the line being affixed to any suitable portion of the molding apparatus.

In this modification, the shoe 10 may be supported by a last similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 or by other suitable lasts. For example, a heel piece 79 is adjustably joined by a rod 80 and a nut 81 to a toe piece (not hown), the flexible last base plate 22 being positioned under the supporting last. The heel piece 79 is carried by a vertical rod 81a extending to nut 82 fastened to a universal ball and socket joint 83, the other side of this being affixed to a threaded rod 84. Slidably mounted on the rod 81a is a collar 85 provided with a lock screw 86 and formed with a threaded boss 87. A threaded rod 88 provided with an eye 89 in its end is secured in the boss 87, the nut and wing bolt combination 65 being received in the eye 89 and carrying the bracket 66 to which is secured the line 71.

The apparatus for Securing the band 41 to the outer edge of the shoe 10 in Figures 5 and 6 is substantially the same as that illustrated in connection with Figures 1 to 3, thesprings 44 and 52 being shown in this instance without the loops 46 and 52a. However, somewhat modified apparatus urges the band 41 into conformity with the inner edge of the shoe 10.

A block 90 is formed with a substantially straight edge 91 extending from a position in engagement with the band 41 adjacent the shoe heel to a position in engagement with the band 41 adjacent to the shoe sole. Due .to the straight edge 91 of the block 90, it is spaced from the inner edge of the shoe 10 along the arch 15. Pivoted knives 92 and 93 are provided on the block 91, the knife 92 protruding through a slit 94 in the band 41 between the welts 17 and the upper 11 to position the band 41 and the block 91. The knife 93 is not used in the embodiment to be described although it may be employed with the apparatus illustrated in Figure 2.

Eccentrically mounted cylinders 95 and 96 are positioned above and below the block 90 on the spring 44 extending therethrough, nuts 97 and 98 being threaded on the spring to secure the assembly thereon.

The eccentric 96 has been rotated in Figure 6 to urge the lower edge of the band 41 against the arch 15 somewhat below the welt 17. If the knife 93 is swiveled into engagement with the shoe through a slit 100 in the band 41, the eccentric 95 must then be pivoted to urge the band 41 toward or against the welt 17.

As discussed in connection with Figures 1 to 3, the line 71 extends from the plate 68 over the shank 16b in order to lift the arch of the shoe 10. This is accomplished by actuating the wingnut 65. In this modification, the stiifeners 72 extend downwardly past the welt 17 into the chamber formed between the arch 15 and the band 41.

The welt 17 is preferably provided with serrations 17a on its inside edge adjacent the shank 16b in order to accommodate a greater amount of the molding compound at this point. Furthermore, such serrations aid in positioning the stilfeners 72, as shown in Figure 5 and in binding the resilient shank to the shoe.

In molding a sole and heel on the shoe 10 employing the apparatus illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the operations are generally the same as described in connection with Figures 1 to 3. In this instance, however, the portion of the arch 15 exposed to the molding compound is preferably roughened by scraping or sandblasting and the molding compound then cast into the mold formed by the band 41. The material will flow to the arch 15 adjacent to the band 41, the line 71 previously being tensioned to exaggerate the amount of arch lift. Upon hardening of the resilient shoe bottom, the molding apparatus may be removed from the shoe 10 and it will return to its original shape with an external arch support provided thereon. Since this external arch support extends along a portion of the shoe upper, it greatly aids in providing firm and lasting support, this being achieved efliciently with a minimum of additional material and expense. Thus, an old shoe which has been weakened by long wear can be renovated employing the principles discussed above.

It will be understood that the above-described embodiments ofthe invention are illustrative only and modifications therof will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the apparatus disclosed herein but is to be defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of providing arch support in a shoe comprising the steps of positioning a shoe bottom mold on the shoe, lifting the shoe arch beyond its normal position, and casting in the mold a resilient bottom on the shoe.

2. In apparatus for providing an arch supporting bottom on a shoe, means forming a shoe bottom mold on the shoe, and means secured to the shoe and in contact with and acting positively on the arch for lifting the arch above its normal position.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which elongated reinforcing elements extend transversely across the shoe bottom under the arch and spaced therefrom.

4. In apparatus for providing an arch supporting bottom on a shoe, means forming a shoe bottom mold on the shoe, line means secured to the lower outer edge of the shoe and extending across the outer side of the shoe bottom and past its inner edge, and means for tensioning the line means for lifting the shoe arch above its normal position.

5. In apparatus for providing an arch supporting bottom on a shoe, means forming a shoe bottom mold on the shoe extending to a portion of the arch on the shoe upper and adapted to form a resilient section secured to said portion, and means secured to the shoe and in contact with and acting positively on the arch for lifting the shoe arch above its normal position.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which elongated reinforcing elements extend transversely across the shoe bottom under the arch and spaced therefrom.

7. In apparatus for providing an arch supporting bottom on a shoe, shoe last means for supporting the shoe,

a flexible last base plate having a portion of greater flexibility adjacent the inner section of the shank, means forming a shoe bottom mold on the shoe, and means secured to the shoe and in contact with and acting positively on the arch for lifting the shoe arch above its normal position.

8. In apparatus for providing an arch supporting bottom on a shoe, shoe last means for supporting the shoe, a flexible last base plate having a portion of greater flexibility adjacent to the inner section of the shank, line means secured to the outer edge of the shoe and extending across the outer side of the shoe bottom and past its inner edge, and means tensioning the line means for lifting the shoe arch above its normal position.

9. Shoe sole and heel molding apparatus comprising resilient rubbery molding band means, means adapted to clamp said band means to a shoe adjacent to the bottom and along the periphery thereof, at least one knife inserted through a slit in the band into engagement with the shoe between the welt and upper to position the band accurately on the shoe, said band means extending a predetermined distance beyond the bottom of the shoe and having a cutaway section on at least one side of the shoe adjacent to the shoe shank, said band means extending into contact with portions of the shoe upper, and a core disposed in the cutaway section and extending across the shank.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which a pair of knives are disposed on opposite sides of the shank extending through slits in the band means into engagement with the shoe between the belt and the upper.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which a knife is provided at the toe of the shoe extending through a slit in the band means into engagement with the shoe between the welt and the upper.

12. In a method of providing arch support in a shoe, the steps of positioning a supporting last in the shoe, attaching connecting elements to the shoe in contact with the shoe arch, and tensioning the connecting elements to raise the shoe arch beyond its normal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 308,736 Bickford Dec. 2, 1884 1,622,860 Cutler Mar. 29, 1927 1,989,853 Finn Feb. 5, 1935 2,406,005 Doherty Aug. 20, 1946 2,437,030 Hoza Mar. 2, 1948 2,613,394 Doherty Oct. 14, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 557,073 Germany Aug. 18, 1932 480,840 Italy Mar. 13, 1953 

